HOUSTON, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 7, 2006 -- A coalition of Texas craft breweries and beer
lovers, Friends of Texas Microbreweries, today launched a campaign to allow
small Texas breweries to sell directly to patrons. Currently, the Texas
Alcohol and Beverage Code requires microbreweries to sell only to
distributors and retailers, which puts Texas craft breweries at a
disadvantage to those in other states where sales direct to customers are
allowed.

"We can no longer ignore the fact that 14 out of 19 microbreweries have
failed in Texas in part because current regulations disadvantage
microbrewing small businesses," said Saint Arnold founder Brock Wagner.
"This common-sense proposal will allow Texas microbrewers to compete with
out-of-state microbrewers on a level playing field."

In 2003, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 11, which changed
the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Code to allow Texas wineries to sell limited
quantities of their beverages directly to patrons. Friends of Texas
Microbreweries is proposing a similar change for microbreweries, which
would allow on-premise sales of no more than 5,000 barrels of ale and malt
liquor annually.

"It has been three years since Texas voters clearly signaled they support
common sense beverage laws," said Fritz Rahr, founder of Rahr & Sons
Brewing Company in Fort Worth. "It's time Texas craft brewers offered the
same customer-friendly advantages that Texas wineries already have."

In keeping with the trailblazing spirit of the Texas craft brewing
industry, Friends of Texas Microbreweries is anticipating an unconventional
campaign. Along with the traditional elements of legislative outreach, the
coalition plans to utilize trendy technologies to help it reach and
mobilize grassroots opinion-leaders. For instance, Saint Arnold Brewing has
launched a blog at http://www.starnoldgoestoaustin.com/blog and also plans
outreach to other bloggers throughout Texas.

"Texas beer lovers are enthusiastic and always ready to take action when
they see something that needs to get done," Wagner said. "Our blog will be
instrumental in getting our message out to tens of thousands of members of
Saint Arnold's Army, so we can mobilize them to encourage legislators to
allow Texas craft brewers to compete with out-of-state craft brewers."

In addition to Houston-based Saint Arnold Brewing Company, every other
Texas microbrewery is backing the initiative, including Independence
Brewing and Live Oak Brewing Company in Austin, Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
in Fort Worth, and Real Ale Brewery in Blanco.

About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing's ten brews are made and sold by the company's staff
of 18 dedicated employees. The brewery is located at 2522 Fairway Park
Drive and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every Saturday at 1:00
P.M. For more information on Saint Arnold's five year-round and five
seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to http://www.saintarnold.com.

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